Parachute release device



Feb. 28, 1950 D. MILLER PARACHUTE RELEASE DEVICE Filed Jan. 10, 1948 IN V EN TOR DANIEL MILLER to such persons body harness.

' Patented Feb. 28, 1950 I UNIT-ED f STATES" QPATEVNT I oFFlcE rAaAonU'rE RELEASE DEVICE Daniel Miller, Brooklyn, N. Y." I

Application January 10, 1948, Serial No. 1,620 a shrouds leading down from th parachute canopy.

As soon as a parachutist has completed his descent, to alight on land or water, the imperative thing to be done isinstantly to free himself from said suspending straps. Thereafter, and rela-, tively speaking, more at leisure, he may divest himself of the body harness.

There have been many proposals for quick breaking of the couplings of the harness parts,

and some of them have been excellent; but the present invention is not concerned with that aspect of development of the parachute art.

What the present invention provides is a simple appliance, to be worn across the breast of the parachutist, from the first donning of the body.

harness and during all of his descent with the' parachute; which appliance, rugged although of light weight, and comfortable on the body, will with absolutely dependable certainty maintain the body harness securely connected to said suspending straps, yet is adaptedby a single movement of a single manually operable actuator, such movement not accidentally capable of being performed, instantly to become effective to disconnect both suspending straps and so release the parachute from the body harness, thereby to free the parachutist from allparts of th parachute.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description .and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claimsin which the various novelfeatures ofthe invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, showing part of the body of a person suspended from a descending parachute, and a now favored embodimentof. the invention in coupling condition relative Ito. said suspending straps from the parachute and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective, showing one of two members of two pairs of co,- operant members which are permanently secured to-the body harness. I a v Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing oneof the two complementary members of each of said pairs, which are permanently securedtosaid suspend: in: straps. I I v I...

Claims. (01.244451) Fig, 4 is a further. enlarged view, although a fragmentary one, showing partially in front elevation and partially-in section certain of the parts seen in Fig. 1.

.Fig. v5 is a front elevational view, showing a modification of. the appliance of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the parachutistlll is indicated as in a conventional type of body harness incorporatingshoulder straps I2, said straps downwardly converged at the front as breast straps l4 forconnection, as by a fitment or device. IE, to the upper ends of stomach straps I 6 divergingly downwardly extending for connection to other straps (not shown), these last connected to the waist strap .l'i, which waist strap at its back is connected to the rear downward continuations of the shoulder straps l2. I a

The device l5 may represent any known, or any desirable, form of quick-detachable coupling, operable in various ways. known in the art to break down enough harness-part connections to permitthe parachutist speedily to divest himself of all parts of the harness. As already stated, the present invention is not concerned with a coupling of the kind just mentioned, but, instead,

provides aquick-detachable coupling between the harness and the suspending straps l8' which de-,- pend from the lower ends of the shrouds leading' down from the parachute canopy. I Tothe lower end of each strap 18 isattached, as shown best in Fig. 3, the upper buckle portion [9 of a coupling member 20 including a bladelike transverse bottom portion 2l having an aperture 20'.

Such blade 2! fits in a transverse slot 22 across a complementary coupling member 23, the upper main portion of which is a casing 24 carrying elements to be described in a moment. Below the casing 24, the member 23 has a lower buckle portion 25, to which is attached the upper end of a breast strap 14, and also the front lower end of a shoulder strap"; these two straps l2 and I4 being shown in the present instance as stitched together as at 25',

Both the members 20 are identical, as'are also, except fora reversal of the location of the slot 22 and the buckle portion 25, both members 23, as will benotedfrom Fig. 1.

While the member 23 at the right in Fig. 1 is shown exteriorlyin Fig. 2,'reference is now to be made w-n1 where such a member 23 is illustrated asghaving inside the same an end- 1 Normally,

wisely movable cylindrical bolt 26. by endthrust from a strong expansile spring 21 Said spring 2 :is-backed by asthreaded sleeve plug 3!], which: after being screwedfiin all. the

way is peened or otherwise made secure agains accidental retrograde turning.

Rigidly attached at opposite ends to each mam-- her 23, in line with the central openingthrough' 1 the plug of that member, is theto'p stretch of a T-shaped tubular unit 3! to facilitate which attachment each end of said stretch--is= s hoWnas flanged at 32.

To the lower end of the T-stafi of said unit'is secured ,the upper. endoi a metal flexible tube 33 .ofthe familiar spirally wound type: The lower. end offsaidltube is'closedby-a plate 34; suitably apertured for the passingtherethrougl'f'of apair of flexible elements, such. as. fine piano' wires; 35 and 36?. These elements 35'and35f'travel'as shown throu h the unit 3;! and thence down inside the, tube .33," an'd 'both' said: elements are secured. at theirloweryend's to abar-type pull handle .31.; The. wire .35. passes. loosely through the sleeve.-. plug-.30, .an'dLhas-its. upper end" secured". to the bolt 26; andthewireBfi similarly passes through the. corresponding sleevesplug of. the member 2 3? atthe right in. Fig. ,L andis] secured. atiits upper endrto the correspondingboltof that member. The-bolt is formed.lwith..a-cylindricalextension 26 projected in bore 28 of the member .23. An annulargroove 28R ismcut in the, outside, periphery oLthebolt 26,.adaDtBd-to be -engagedtb'y; a spring pressed ,lockingipawllzfi when. ,the bolt is in its open or releasingposition... Thelockingipawl 24. has .aprojecting finger. 24!? extending outwardly fromthei member. 23 'so,..that whenv itfis desired to. reset. the bolt. 26.. into looking; ppsition, the projectingfinger .242 may be. pushed inithe direc tionof the..arrow.2.49.. Assoon as theparachutistalights, asingle one-1 directional. pullflon the. handle 31. acts through the wires 35 .and. 3.6..toretract1. fully both, thebolts. in the; two. members; 23,. whereupon; instantly, the. parachutis'tfs' body harness will be completely disconnected 1 from the? parachute ofcoupling of said straps with. the. b'odyharnessproperly spaced laterally of; the. paraoh'utists body and thus positively, prevents". any: undesirable creeping of the shoulder straps i Ztoward each. other and .towardthe neck; and throat of "the parachutist.

' Referring to Fig.5;amodificationis illustrated in which the members 23', corresponding to the members 23, and. all. .the. other parts d'escrib'edin connection withl-iigsn 1-4, are present, with the exceptions-that; for -the,,.T-unit 3| and the tube 33, there are substituted astraightstay-bar, element 23 'securedinear its opposite ends, to the two. members: 23*. to maintain vthem rigidlyv in predetermined spacing, for. housing and. guiding the-wires corresponding to the wiresfifiaandflfi. a flexible'tube 38 extends .from'one of'the members 2 8' i. another? such-.tube-39; extendstfrom the other member 23, and the lower cdnvrged'ends' of these tubes are connected with the upper end of a rigid tube 40, below which is the pull-handle 31', corresponding to the handle 31, to simultaneously pull the cables in tubes 38 and 39 and open both bolts at the same time.

It is to be understood that the parachute appliance may be positioned on the wearers back, chest, or at other positions in any suitable manneri When the deviceis .placed onsa person's back; the flexible; tube 3.3;ish'ould be; extended to the front of the wearer so that the handle 31 2.7136 at a convenient location.

v The.bo1t locking device may also be located at'any 'position between the handle 3'! and the 15.

bnlizizfiia.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred' embodiments of my invention, it is" to.:b e;-'understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the rightisreserved to all changes and modifications coming within thers'copetofithe invention as-defih'edfin the'append'ed'fclaimst:

Havinggthus described my, invention; what" I claim asznew, and"desire"to'secure byxUnited; States "Letters Patent .is:

1. Ina parachute having;;a body; harness in? eluding; spaced breast straps" and a" canopy having depending shroud." st'raps; means rel'easably connecting the b'ott'ompends of "the shroud"straps tol-the-breast" straps; comprising acasing-fixedly' 'secnred"toeach of the.breaststrapsrandformed with a slot which opens to th'ettop face" thereof-i a..coupling member mounted on "the'bottom" end" of1.ea'ch of the shroud straps, said coupling memb'ersbeing f ormed'with depending 'blade -lil e-b"'ot=- tom. .portions "received in the'slotsof said casing; said bottomportionsbeing formed with" aper' tures; said-casings being'formedwith' inwardly extended bores" align'ed -with the holes of said bottom'portlons when" inserted intosaidi slots,; springgpressedplringersslidably -disposed withirr said-boresian'dhaving "their outer ends projecting; through said apertures retaining said cou pling members connected-withsaid casings, and manuallycontrollable means for withdrawing said phingers from said apertures 1 freeingsaid" coupling: members for separation? froirn saidv casings;

2i: In -a".parachute-havihg a body harness in.- cluding spaced *breast straps and acanopy havsing depending shroud straps; means releasably connectingthebottom ends" of the shroud.rstraps' to:ther'breastjstraps; comprising" a" casingfixedly. secured to eachrof e'the breastrstraps and formed with 1 a slot "Whibh opens to the: top face th'ereof'; aaJcouplingmember mounted on the bottom rend ofieachpf the shroudstraps; said. coupling 1 meme bers b'eing formedwith depending?blade-likebbtetom. portions receivedin the: slotsof said casing; said bottom portions beingiormed withapertures, said casings being iormed-"w ith'inwardlyextend ed-boresalignefiwith the holes of said bottom portionsjwhen inserted into" said slots; spring: pressediplungersslidablyy disposed within said. b'ores" and having; their outer ends" projecting through* sa-idaperturesretaining I said coupling?v members connected'with-said casings and mam);- ally" controllable me'ans'for withdrawing said plungers from' said apertures freeing said 7 cou-ipling'members-"f'o'r"separation from said casing-s, a. tube extended between said' casings in end alignment.withsaid-plungersandhaving a-branch tube depending; therefromwbetwe'enf the breast straps; said withdrawingmeans'comprising next: ble wires each having one of their ends connected to the inner ends of said plungers, said wires having their free ends extended through said first tube to said branch tube and then through said branch tube and projected from the bottom end thereof, and a handle mounted on the extended ends of said flexible wires.

3. In a parachute having a body harness including spaced breast straps and a canopy having depending shroud straps, means releasably connecting the bottom ends of the shroud straps to the breast straps, comprising a casing fixedly tom portions received in the slots of said casing,

said bottom portions being formed with apertures; 'said casings being formed with inwardly extend ed bores aligned with the holes of said bottom portions when inserted into said slots, spring pressed plungers slidably disposed within said bores and having their outer ends projecting through said apertures retaining said coupling members connected with said casings, and manually controllable means for withdrawing said plungers from said apertures freeing said coupling members for separation from said casings, a tube extended between said casings in end alignment with said plungers and having a branch tube depending therefrom between the breast straps, said withdrawing means comprising flexible wires each having one of their ends connected to the inner ends of said plungers, said wires having their free ends extended through said first tube to said branch tube and then through said branch tube and projected from the bottom end thereof, and a handle mounted on the extended ends of said flexible wires, said first tube having its ends connected to said casings and serving to hold said breast straps properly spaced.

4. In a parachute having a body harness including spaced breast straps and a canopy having depending shroud straps, means releasably connecting the bottom ends of the shroud straps to the breast straps, comprising a casing fixedly secured to each of the breast straps and formed with a slot which opens to the top face thereof, a coupling member mounted on the bottom end of each of the shroud straps, said coupling members being formed with depending blade-like bot-, tom portions received in the slots of said casing;

said bottom portions being formed with'apertures, said casings being formed with inwardly extend- 6. ed bores aligned with the holes of said bottom portions when inserted into said slots, spring pressed plungers slidably disposed within said bores and having their outer ends projecting through said apertures retaining said coupling members connected with said casings, and manually controllable means for withdrawing said plungers from said apertures freeing said coupling members for separation from said casings, and means for releasably holding said plungers in a position withdrawn from the apertures of said coupling members.

5. In a parachute having a body harness including spaced breast straps and a canopy having depending shroud straps, means releasably connecting the bottom ends of the shroud straps to the breast straps, comprising a casing fixedlysecured to each of the breast straps and formed with a slot which opens to the top face thereof, a coupling member mounted on the bottom end of each of the shroud straps, said coupling members being formed with depending blade-like bottom portions received in the slots of said casing, said bottom portions being formed with apertures, said casings being formed with inwardly extend- ,ed bores aligned with the holes of said bottom pling members for separation from said casings,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 741,014 Covert Oct. 13, 1903 2,292,386 Manson Aug. 11, 1942 2,394,295 Dreyfus Feb. 5, 1946 2,405,333 Sheridan Aug. 6, 1946 2,406,209 Fausz Aug. 20, 1946 

